Machina Secures $9 Million to Build LUCAS Drones in Containerized Micro Factories
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- TheWarZone
Machina, a California-based robotics company, has received a $9 million award to develop a containerized system for the robotic mass production of Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) airframes. This initiative aims to produce drones closer to the battlefield, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness for military units. The contract, part of the Defense Department’s Organic Industrial Base Modernization Challenge, requires Machina to demonstrate its RoboCraftsman system's capability to manufacture LUCAS drones at forward-deployed locations within 18 months.
The significance of this development lies in the Pentagon's strategy to decentralize drone production, allowing military units to tailor their manufacturing to specific mission requirements. By utilizing containerized 3D printing and advanced fabrication techniques, the initiative seeks to shorten supply chains that could be compromised during major conflicts. Machina's approach enables rapid production of various drone designs, ensuring that units can adapt to changing operational needs without relying on pre-shipped models.
Machina plans to establish “Edge Factories” at two U.S. locations initially, with the goal of deploying them to forward bases in countries like Kuwait. The RoboCraftsman system, which utilizes metal for airframe construction, is designed to quickly generate multiple drone designs based on specific parameters, enhancing the military's operational capabilities in diverse environments.
Original report
LUCAS Drones To Be Built In Containerized Robotic Micro Factories Designed To Be Forward Deployed
TheWarZone · Howard AltmanThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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